It's been a big year for the space sciences. The first privately-held spacecraft orbited our world, the blackest material in history was created, researchers expanded the list of possible sources of life threefold; and that was just in December.

3. After Watching This Video, It's Clear the Universe Will End Today - April 12th
There are plenty of amazing time lapse videos. This is one. But when you see it paired with Hans Zimmer's "Dream is collapsing"-from Inception's soundtrack-it goes from amazing to holy-fuck-the-Universe-is-about-to-collapse-and-we-are-all-gonna-die amazing. Play the HD full screen. Use headphones.

4. The World Would Be Better If Everyone Watched This Video - December 5th
If every person on our blue Earth watched this video, the world would be a much better place. At least for a few minutes. Listen closely to Carl Sagan's words till the end. It won't fail to get you teary.-JD

8. Jules Verne Was (Almost) Right - November 5th
If John Hunter-a former physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory-is successful, the International Space Station may start receiving their supplies from a cannon. No, it's no joke.

9. Neil Armstrong Explains Why He Didn't Run Wild on the Moon - December 10th
When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon in 1969, neither one ever strayed more than 100 yards from the lunar lander. NPR writer Robert Krulwich questioned why this happened in a story yesterday. Today, Armstrong replied.

10. The Probability of Finding Aliens Is Now Three Times Higher - December 2nd
The total number of stars in the Universe "is likely three times bigger than realized." Yale University astronomer Pieter van Dokkum says there are "possibly trillions of Earths orbiting these stars," dramatically increasing the possibility of finding alien civilizations.

11. Stephen Hawking Predicts the End of Humanity, Again - August 8th
Stephen Hawking, brilliant astrophysicist and nefarious alien doomsday prophet, is again atop his soapbox preaching the end of humanity should we not board spaceships and colonize the solar system and beyond.

13. What Would Happen if You Fell Into a Black Hole? - January 26th
Noted astrophysicist and all-around likable nerd Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson explains in this video the effects of a black hole on the human body. Spoiler: You would die a horrible death, but the cause is hilariously named.

15. First Private Spacecraft In Orbit After Perfect Launch- December 8th
The SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has launched successfully, carrying the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. Dragon is the first private spaceship in history. It would be able to carry seven astronauts to orbit. Watch the launch and the separation videos here.

Been under a rock? See what else happened this year in our Best of 2010 series.